Australia: Blue Diamond Preview races early tests for 2-year-olds

The early double at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday will offer clues regarding some of that country’s 2-year-old to follow in the next several weeks.

The first two races are $142,200 Blue Diamond Preview races at five furlongs, one for colts and geldings and one for fillies, which are designed as preps for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield on Feb. 26. Another set of prep races will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 12.

The Blue Diamond Preview for colts and geldings drew a small field of five. The two starters with race experience are expected to dominate the betting – Philosopher and Rampant Lion.

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Philosopher, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, led throughout a handicap at five furlongs against winners at Caulfield on Jan. 8 as the 1-5 favorite, winning that debut by a head over the filly Jewellery, the early favorite in the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies.

Rampant Lion, trained by Peter Moody, was third by 2 1/4 lengths in his lone start, the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington in October.

The three first-time starters in the colts and geldings division, include Daumier, trained by the Freedmans for Godolphin Racing.

As of Monday, Philosopher was the 6-5 favorite, while Rampant Lion was 8-5.

Jewellery was the early 5-2 favorite in the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies, but must contend with the debut winners Latizia and Bistro and the first-time starter Miss Roseiano.

Latizia, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, led throughout her debut in a five-furlong allowance race at Flemington on Jan. 1. Miss Roseiano won a schooling race at 4 1/4 furlongs by more than a length at Pakenham Racecourse on Jan. 11 for trainer Peter Gelagotis.

The fillies division of the Blue Diamond Preview has a field of 14, including eight first-time starters. The only winner in the field aside from Latizia is the Freedman-trained Bistro, who won a five-furlong allowance race as the even-money favorite at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Jan. 8. Bistro was 8-1 on Monday.

Caulfield has an eight-race program beginning at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.